UPDATE Left the Switch on overnight

[James Rogers]

Jamie, the points are probably still god since to drain the battery they would have been closed. Not garanteed but probable.

[jkcrosson]

Points look good, coil looks good. Not sure about the battery yet.

[eagle]

If at all possible, NEVER let a battery sit dead. Charge it ASAP. Also, once you drain the battery down, don't plan on the charging system to bring your battery back. Even if you get the car started, when you get home put it on a trickle charger for 24 hours. This includes modern cars too. Proper treatment of a battery is years worth of difference in service life. Optima included.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by machine girl

we install battery disconnect switches on all our cars and customer cars.(but wont help if you don't use it )

X-2 ! Ain't it the truth! If you do not use it to turn system off, well that seems to be human nature ! But, if you install a good cut off switch inside the A (under the seat) and first thing on and last thing off, you will NEVER experience draining a battery...and other bad things !

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

It's better to leave the caps on so acid bubbles don't coat the top of the battery
Don't add any water to a discharged battery except to cover the plates, as the battery charges the level rises ---- if it is filled and charged there is a good chance it will overflow and make a mess

The last time I left the key on all I had time for was a 10 min charge, hand cranked it, 30 miles later the Optima was up enough to start the car---- of course my 6V charger didn't know it couldn't work on a totally dead Optima

Kurt, I blew half the top off Vermin's battery doing a 2 amp trickle charge, with the caps ON!! The battery must have been shipped "WET" & someone FORGOT to punch out the vent indents, on the bottom of the caps----Bill W.

[jkcrosson]

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Update, the battery charged fine. So it appears the ammeter, coil and battery are all fine after this. I cranked the car tonight and it ran horrible (skipping and sputtering). The car had died Saturday a couple of times. Carburetor is fine. Does this possibly sound like a condenser issue?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by jkcrosson

Update, the battery charged fine. So it appears the ammeter, coil and battery are all fine after this. I cranked the car tonight and it ran horrible (skipping and sputtering). The car had died Saturday a couple of times. Carburetor is fine. Does this possibly sound like a condenser issue?

Hold the coil wire 1/4" from a head nut and check for a good blue spark. If it's yellow or weak then I'd try cleaning the points, (no cost). If that doesn't improve the spark, then try a new condenser (low cost). If that doesn't fix the spark then try another coil (moderate cost).

[jkcrosson]

Thanks Tom.